Are you planning a summer camping trip to Colorado? If so, you are in for an incredibly enjoyable experience. There are many wonderful Colorado State Parks that are ideal for camping. Here are my picks for five of the best ones:
Cherry Creek State Park
Cherry Creek State Park is located in Aurora. It has rustic and fully developed campsites. Bird watchers will undoubtedly love this park for its abundance of raptors. The park's other stand out features include opportunities for flying model airplanes, jet skiing, fishing, horseback riding and hiking. Hikers looking for scenic views and a chance to break a sweat should try the Cherry Creek Trail. There are also biking trails, a swimming beach, a shooting range and a marina onsite.
Jackson Lake State Park
Jackson Lake State Park is located outside of Goodrich. It has partially and fully developed campsites. If you love OHV riding as much as I do, this park is for you. The park's looped, OHV trail may not be particularly challenging but it is still fun nonetheless. There are also opportunities for geocaching, hiking, sailboarding and jet skiing. Onsite boating, fishing, biking and volleyball are available too.
Lathrop State Park
Lathrop State Park is located outside of Walsenburg. It has standard and enhanced campsites. The park's best attributes include a 9-hole golf course, stocked fishing lakes, multi-use trails, a swimming beach and 13 geocaching sites. Water skiing and jet skiing opportunities are also available.
Chatfield State Park
Chatfield State Park is located outside of Denver. It has basic and fully developed campsites. The abundance of unique recreational opportunities is what makes this park exceptional. Campers have the opportunity to enjoy hot air balloon rides, sailboarding, model airplane flying, horseback riding and jet skiing. A swimming beach, superlative bass fishing, hiking and biking trails are also available onsite.
Steamboat Lake State Park
Steamboat Lake State Park is located outside of Steamboat Springs. It has primitive and minimally developed campsites. If you ask me, the park is an excellent spot to enjoy water related activities. There are opportunities for swimming, water skiing, sailboarding, jet skiing and fishing. Horseback riding, geocaching, hiking and mountain biking are also options available to campers. I'd suggest that novice hikers try the Tombstone Nature Trail. It is easy on the feet and there are a few benches along the way where you can stop and enjoy an impromptu repast. As the name aptly suggests, there is also an old tombstone located at the end of the trail.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys summer sports and recreation with her family. She has also traveled extensively.
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